Israeli airstrikes have severely damaged Sanaa International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, destroying the departure lounge and its runway, three passenger planes, and critical infrastructure, rendering the facility inoperable.
The terminal building was still burning until Wednesday, sending columns of black smoke into sky. The entire hall has been destroyed. All communication and navigation equipment at the airport has been wiped out. There is nothing left. Everything has been destroyed, and nothing is usable anymore.
At the same time, the airport runway was also hit by airstrikes, leaving multiple large craters. The destroyed civilian aircraft, once served as vital means of international travel for the elderly, the sick, and expatriates, are now lying at the edge of the runway.
"Three operational passenger aircraft, an Airbus A330 and two Airbus A320s, were directly hit. In addition, several decommissioned aircraft were damaged, including an Airbus A310, a Boeing 727, and a cargo plane. The airstrikes have caused us tremendous losses. Preliminary estimates put the damage at over 500 million U.S. dollars. Aside from the aircraft, some of the company's ground facilities, such as hangars, maintenance workshops, and ground support equipment, were also completely destroyed," said Khalil Jahaf, acting chairman of the board of directors of Yemenia Airways.
Sana'a airport is the largest airport in Yemen, and prior to this attack, it was the only large airport still operational within Houthi-controlled territory. Over the past decade, it has served as a crucial hub for humanitarian aid shipments, particularly for medical supplies. It has also been a vital entry and exit point for the United Nations, international organizations, and negotiating parties.
"All flights from Sanaa International Airport to its only destination, Jordan, have been suspended. This route once provided humanitarian service to patients, students, and foreign nationals. Moreover, UN aircraft and planes used by international organizations to deliver humanitarian aid have also stopped operating," said Ali Tayseer, deputy minister of Justice and Human Rights of the Houthis.
The Houthis, who now control much of northern Yemen, have been launching drones and missiles toward Israel since November 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the war in Gaza.
The group lacks modern air defence systems and has limited civil protection infrastructure. Cities under Houthi control, including Sanaa, are without public shelters, and key facilities such as the Sanaa airport serve as vital links for civilians, humanitarian operations, and diplomatic access.
Israeli airstrikes paralyze Yemen's Sanaa airport
